So far, so confusing. Let’s take a closer look at each spa to understand what each one offers 🙂

DESTINATION SPAS:

Destination Spas are residential facilities that concentrate on improving health and fitness through exercise, nutrition, spa treatments and thermal wellbeing. They are all about relaxation and rejuvenation and learning how to live a healthy life. The spa is the destination, you are there for a reason and that is to spa and nothing else! You can stay for as long as you want, from days to months if budget allows! The aim is to restore your health and vitality.

Six Senses Yao-noi Spa, Thailand

The cost usually includes all meals, exercise classes and some spa treatments, but obviously check before you book.

They are staffed by experts in various disciplines e.g yoga or nutrition or herbal medicine, and promote a healthy and active lifestyle during your stay. Some personalise therapies to their guests so that they gain optimum benefit from their time there.

Children aren’t normally welcome in a destination spa. It is however suitable for people travelling alone but who want to spend time with like-minded people and for couples.

SPA RESORTS:

A spa resort caters more for families in a hotel situation and is less focused on an all-encompassing health and wellness experience. The spa treatments are usually only one part of the stay which can include outdoor pools, tennis, cycling and golf. They are likely to have a suite of saunas and steam rooms with maybe an ice room or plunge pool alongside a gym for guests to use during their stay.

Treetop Sauna, Centre Parcs, Sherwood Forest

At a spa resort the focus is on enjoying yourself, eat and drink healthy if you like, but if you don’t there are other options available on the menu!

Some spa resorts can also act as a day spa, whereby access is allowed to day guests who aren’t residents of the hotel.

DAY SPAS:

As the name suggests, these aren’t residential – you literally visit a day spa for a day without any overnight accommodation.

They usually have a variety of pampering facilities for the guest to experience such as massages, beauty therapies and holistic treatments and have thermal rooms and swimming pools. Gym facilities are very common now too. Packages generally include a treatment and lunch or afternoon tea.

Pennyhill Park Spa

Day spas vary in price depending on what treatments they can offer. Some may just offer manicures and massage alongside a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, whilst others offer a full range of treatments, some even including more ‘medical’ ones such as Botox and laser facials, with a selection of thermal wellbeing rooms and pools.

A lot of day spas are attached to hotels or country clubs and allow guests to stay at the hotel if they wish and then revisit again the next day.

We are all very aware of the importance of everyday physical wellbeing. Most of us try and exercise regularly and eat well and we understand the benefits of using a spa to relax and reinvigorate our bodies. Indeed the global wellness industry was estimated to be worth $3.72 trillion in 2016. But it is only fairly recently that the correlation between physical and mental wellness has been highlighted. The importance of mental wellbeing has almost been forgotten in the past.

In today’s world of portable technology, such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, it is very difficult to switch off our brains. We are bombarded with images, news, sport, videos, texts, status updates, and emails all day, every day. And very few of us actually switch off our phones, let alone our brains.

This digital noise has a detrimental effect on our mental health. The line between work and home becomes more blurred as we are constantly connected to our emails. This can lead to lost sleep as we worry about how to reply, or about a meeting that has suddenly come up, which in turn creates higher stress levels and greater anxiety.

We mindlessly scroll through social media, worrying about other people’s status updates – how are they so thin/rich/happy/beautiful? Why don’t my posts get as many likes as others? Social media makes a lot of people feel inadequate and as if they don’t match up to social expectations. Before getting stressed about it, we need to take some time out to remember that people only portray what they want people to see. Most of it is completely fake, or at least only true at that one moment in time (hence the need to boast!). We never post the really bad things, the rows, the money and drink problems. We just put up photos of perfectly dressed children in impractically neat houses in front of that perfect roaring fireplace! The pressure that people feel trying to keep up is incredibly stressful. But still we scroll.

(In a recent survey it was found that young girls take around 40-50 selfie shots of themselves before they see one they like. Once uploaded, if it doesn’t reach a certain amount of likes they feel as if they have failed, as if they’re not beautiful and they take down the picture and start again). Rates of depression in young people have increased by 70% in the past 25 years and it is estimated that around 80,000 children and young people suffer from severe depression. Online bullying has a huge impact on this and we must ask how much is social media to blame?

So how do we combat this digital noise? We need to help the digital generation switch off more and we all need to re-train ourselves back to a time before we relied so heavily on looking at a screen 24/7!

Constant looking at a screen before bedtime interferes with sleep patterns, and as we have highlighted in a previous blog (Goodnight, Sleep Tight ….) sleep is essential to mental and physical wellbeing. So make a point of turning the phone off an hour or so before bedtime allowing your mind to relax. Read a book or have a soothing bath, leaving the phone out of reach!

Start to interact with others more. All too often we text or email rather than actually using the phone to talk to people. Even at checkouts in shops we are too involved with screens to interact with the people serving us. Face to face interaction also reduces misunderstandings that can arise from reading a text or email in the ‘wrong’ way and putting meanings into it that weren’t intended. Any issues can then be cleared up quickly, not allowing us to fester and stress over them. Instead of using free time connected to a pocket computer – get out and socialise with friends. Take up a hobby that stops you looking at your phone for an hour or two!

Beth McGroarty, Research Director at the The Global Wellness Institute has recognised a growing demand for digital silence in the world of spas and travel, with the Mandarin Oriental spa group holding a global silent Spa evening last December. Silence, both digital and physical, is becoming more popular with spas even being developed in former religious spaces such as monasteries and abbeys. These spas have a no mobile rule and offer absolute disconnection along with noiseless bathing and treaments. This offers the opportunity to re-connect with your inner self through contemplation, mindfulness and a truly peaceful environment. Spending time in true silence can improve memory, aid restful sleep, reduce stress and stimulate brain growth.

Eremito eco-retreat and spa, Umbria, Italy

More industries are realising the benefits of switching off from the digital world with trains offering mobile free zones and even restaurants, gyms and some airport lounges having quiet zones.

So take some time out to think through how you interact with your smartphones and tablets. Set some boundaries, especially with work, and let everyone know when you are and aren’t available. Make time for socialising with friends and family and switch off screens well before bedtime so that you can benefit from a decent night’s sleep. Your mental and physical wellbeing will thank you for it.

The Corinthia is a luxury 5 star spa hotel set in the centre of London, just a short walk from Trafalgar Square. When we were invited to visit from Magdi Abdelaty, the Spa Operations Manager, we jumped at the chance to experience the renowned Espa facilities first hand.

The spa spreads out over 4 floors, including15 treatment rooms, a gym, hair salon and a Thermal Floor with heat experience rooms and pools. The décor is luxurious and relaxing mood lighting sets the ambience to an almost decadent level.

Our evening began with a leisurely swim in the shimmering silver stainless steel pool followed by a cool shower. We then took a ball of ice from the fountain and headed to the Amphitheatre sauna, set down into the floor with a spectacular suspended ceiling. When the heat became slightly too much, we headed outside for more ice, bringing it back with us to the sauna and letting it melt over our bodies as we sat there! The frameless glass sauna walls allowed us to watch the mesmerising flames of the nearby fire set within the wall.

david de vleeschauwer

Next on our thermal journey was a visit to the Vitality Pool with its built-in loungers and powerful swan neck fountains. This provided full relaxation for mind and body whilst relieving tired and aching muscles. After the warmth of the pool, it was time to cool down again in the Dornbracht ‘Big Rain’ shower before moving on to the glamorous black mosaic tiled steam room to relax in clouds of fragranced steam.

david de vleeschauwer

We repeated the above journey before settling onto the heated marble relaxation loungers by another fireplace, luxuriating in the warmth of the beds and the glow of the fire.

Eventually it was time to get changed and take part in the real world again. But our journey of relaxation and luxury wasn’t over yet. The changing rooms had a sauna in the Ladies Area and a Tepidarium in the Men’s. And both rooms had sleeping pods, small booths with cushions and blankets where you could take a revitalising nap or even meditate in private. A totally private oasis with no distractions in the middle of a bustling, busy city!

We all agreed it was a wonderfully relaxing experience. Favourite part? The sauna got a lot of votes due to its innovative design and the sleep pods were a definite hit!

Sleep is one of the biggest contributing factors to excellent physical and mental health and wellbeing but its importance is sometimes overshadowed by the media focus on healthy eating and exercise. Insufficient sleep can impact quite detrimentally on your health in a variety of different ways.

copyright: ThinkStockMedia

The amount of sleep we need varies from person to person, but on average the majority of us need about 8 hours a night. Young children and teens may need more as sleep supports their growth and development. When we sleep our brains have the chance to repair and rebalance the hormones that govern the emotions that help us to stay calm, relaxed and happy. It corrects any chemical imbalances and leaves us rested therefore we are more alert and energetic when we wake.

Studies show that a consistent lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain. Tiredness can cause your brain to crave high calorie foods for energy but when your body is tired, it isn’t as effective at breaking down fat cells and tissues, so fat is stored more easily. You are less likely to want to exercise due to low energy and general sluggishness. According to a leading insomnia specialist, Kathryn Pinkham, a good night’s sleep can balance out the hormone fluctuations that provoke appetite.

Our immune system needs sleep to be able to function properly. If we don’t get enough sleep it can affect how the it responds to infection, making it harder to fight off coughs and colds for example. However, you can boost your immune system by using a sauna or steam room where the heat dilates blood vessels thereby increasing circulation throughout the body. The heat can also help to relax you leading to better sleep.

Kelo Sauna Room – Dröm UK Ltd

Sleep can also help to rejuvenate your skin as it rebalances the hydration levels in the body. While we sleep there is a rise in growth hormones which allows damaged cells to be repaired. Lack of sleep results in under eye puffiness, dryness and the appearance of more wrinkles. It also leads to increased stress hormones in the body which can lead to the increase in the breakdown of collagen which gives the skin its firmness and translucency. If the skin cells don’t get a chance to repair themselves, the result is a more noticeable sign of ageing.

The less we sleep, the more it affects our mental wellbeing. According to Mind, the mental health charity, it can be a vicious circle: If you have a mental health problem it can affect how you sleep and poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health. Not enough sleep can lead to negative thoughts and can leave you feeling anxious or depressed. Tiredness can leave you feeling physically and mentally unable to cope with the day ahead, and can be quite isolating as you don’t feel up to socialising with others.

So what is the best way to ensure a good night’s sleep?

There are many suggestions on how to do this and again, it will vary from person to person. Generally, the time before bed should be calm and relaxed rather than spent in front of a screen with flashing images or loud music! Take a warm bath, try some breathing exercises, drink warm milk, spray lavender fragrance onto your pillow, or even meditate. Doing regular physical exercise can also help with sleep.

Avoid caffeine drinks and don’t go to bed either too hungry or too full. Create a routine of doing the same soothing actions each night so that your body learns it is time to sleep. Make sure your bedroom is well ventilated and that your mattress and pillows are comfortable.

For more information on the above and how best to combat sleeplessness please visit these websites:

As one of our members of staff is heading kicking and screaming (literally!) towards the menopause, we decided to investigate to see whether she could benefit from any of the thermal bathing rituals and practices to help ease her symptoms.

It is becoming increasingly common for women to use saunas as they appreciate the feeling of wellbeing and relaxation that regular sauna sessions bring, as well as how great their skin feels after toxins are eliminated and it’s thoroughly cleansed, leaving a healthy glow. But how many women realise that sauna bathing can alleviate some of the main symptoms of perimenopause and actual menopause?

During menopause the levels of oestrogen in the body changes. These changes can lead to several physiological changes including hot flushes, mood swings and an imbalance in the nervous and immune systems. Sweat bathing in a sauna, or steam room, stimulates the autonomic nervous system, which can temporarily reduce the effects of the hormonal changes. Increased hormone levels also effect vascular function which constricts the blood vessels. Bathing in the heat of a sauna can lower blood pressure temporarily and improves circulation as blood vessels dilate. This increases the oxygen levels around the body which helps you feel better.

Other possible side effects of any change in the nervous system are depression, loss of energy and emotional ups and downs. One way of helping relieve these symptoms is to add aromatherapy into your bathing practice. It is believed that the inhalation of essential oils stimulates the part of the brain connected to smell, which in turn sends a signal to the section of the brain that controls emotions. As the nervous system is temporarily balanced within the heat, the essences cause the release of chemicals which can calm or invigorate you. Clary Sage is a popular essential oil in balancing hormones and dealing with symptoms of the menopause including anxiety and hot flushes. See our Aromatherapy section in ‘Drömology – Wellbeing Personified’ for a more detailed overview of which plants can benefit you or click this link: http://www.dromuk.com/online/dromology/

Once you stop menstruating (which is an elimination cycle for the whole body), the body needs to find another way of removing toxins. The heat from sauna and steam bathing opens the skin’s pores and helps reduce levels of toxins and impurities, eliminating waste and reducing the load put on the kidney’s.

Using an Infrared sauna is just as effective at helping to relax and reduce tension and stress associated with mood swings. Excessive sweating can also move the body through the hormonal fluctuations quicker leading to a better night’s sleep with less hot flushes. There are also some reports out that claim infrared heat can help relieve the pain from conditions such as osteoporosis, which is another symptom connected to menopause.

After all this heat, it’s nice to nip into the ice room to cool down! That deals with the hot flushes!

Another added benefit for women is that the heat of the sauna releases endorphins which are the body’s natural painkiller’s. This can help with the discomfort of period pain – I’m sure we have all sat around with a heat pack across our stomach and back at some point. So sit back and relax in a sauna or steam room, add some essential oil and breathe in ……

Alternatively, stretch out on a heated lounger. Heat storage ceramic loungers, store heat and emit it back to the body via infrared long wave gentle heat. Let this heat penetrate into your tissues, soothing muscles and easing joint pain.

Heated lounger by Sommerhuber.

We are not doctors or claim to be medical experts in any way, so obviously check with your GP before trying any form of thermal bathing when you suspect you may be peri/menopausal. All we know for sure is it has helped a certain member of our team ……………. 🙂

You could almost believe it was actually Spring as the sun shone down on London this week, warming the city up for what felt like the first time this year.

So instead of driving up in the company vans or joining the masses travelling underground with no sign of the sun, our Project Managers, Erin and Kevin, decided to take a different approach to their site visits across the city and hired some Boris bikes for the day!

Their journey started at Waterloo and they cycled off to their first appointment at Southbank Tower making sure they could be seen by wearing their Dröm hi-viz jackets and keeping safe with hard hats!

Outward journey red, Return journey blue

Kevin and Erin pick up their bikes at Waterloo

Once they had finished at Southbank they cycled down past the London Eye, the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel at 135m high, which opened in 2000 as part of the city’s millennium celebrations. The wheel has 32 capsules, one for each London borough and rotates at 0.9 km/hr i.e. one revolution takes 30 minutes.

They then faced the traffic over Westminster bridge and headed towards Parliament Square en route to St James’s Park, stopping for a quick selfie in front of Big Ben! The clock tower is actually officially known as Elizabeth Tower and has been since 2012 in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Previously it was known simply as the Clock Tower or St. Stephen’s Tower. The tower is 96m high and was designed by Augustus Pugin. Big Ben is the nickname for the bell which chimes the hour. The hour hand of the clock is 2.7m long and the minute hand is 4.3m long.

Their next appointment was in St. James’s square so they took a shortcut through St. James’s Park (stopping at Buckingham Palace on the way). As with driving, you should never use your phone while cycling, so Kevin sensibly stopped to take a couple of business calls …… and a couple of hayfever tablets!

Once Kevin had finished they headed off to their next appointment at St. James’s Street following the guards from Buckingham Palace as they rode up the Mall! Once business had been concluded on site our intrepid Project Managers started the journey back to Waterloo taking a shortcut back to the Mall past the Duke of York monument. This statue was built to honour Prince Frederick, second eldest son of King George III. The column itself was built in 1832 and the statue itself was placed on top in 1834. Prince Frederick has been immortalised in the nursery rhyme ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ and is widely recognised as bringing the British Army into a cohesive, capable, modernised force following his command during the French Revolutionary Wars.

They made their way back through the park passing Horse Guards Parade en route. Horse Guards was once the HQ of the British Army and nowadays hosts Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of the Queen’s birthday. It was also the scene of jousting tournaments in the days of Henry VIII and more recent sporting events include the Beach Volleyball competition at the London 2012 Olympics.

It was two energised colleagues that returned to the office on Tuesday afternoon. Their day on the bikes had numerous health and environmental benefits, very fitting for a wellbeing company.

Cycling is a great way to keep fit. It improves your cardiovascular fitness, thereby decreasing the risk of coronary heart disease and strengthening your immune system. It is great for muscle tone, especially in your calves, thighs and bottom, and is good for people with joint conditions as it is considered a low impact activity. Other benefits include weight loss as you are burning calories, improved co-ordination and there are also links to good mental health.

Stop breathing the stale air in an air conditioned or overheated office and get outside into the fresh air (ok, maybe the air in London isn’t particularly fresh but it’s still good to be outside!). Once outside, inhaling the oxygen in the fresh air leads to an increased production of serotonin which promotes feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Increased oxygen in your bloodstream helps increase white blood cell functionality when fighting bacteria and germs and it also helps your brain function better, increasing mental clarity.

Leaving the car behind ensures a decrease in your carbon footprint. The CO2 and carbon monoxide emissions from cars, vans and buses have increased enormously the more vehicles we have on the road. These gases are known as ‘greenhouse gases’ and they trap heat inside the planet’s atmosphere. However an increase in production of these gases is increasing the temperature of the planet which in the long term is contributing to extreme weather and climate change through global warming.

Erin and Kevin were lucky to have such a sunny day too – the Vitamin D present in sunshine has so many benefits including building strong bones, protecting against cataracts and boosting immunity, whilst the warmth of the sun has been linked to lowering blood pressure and helping us sleep better. The sun can also improve our mood considerably. Please remember to wear a suitable sunscreen when out in the sunshine though.

If you have you ever wanted a sauna in your own home, but don’t have the space for the more traditional Finnish Sauna or Banya, then it might be worth considering an Infrared Sauna instead.

The Infra cabins come in various sizes to suit all homes, some as small as 1m2 , and have as wide a range of health benefits as a traditional sauna. It therefore comes as no surprise to hear that Hollywood stars such as Jennifer Aniston are extolling the virtues of infrared and are making it part of their everyday wellbeing routine.

Radiant heat and long wave infrared is absorbed by the surface of the skin and is very similar to the heat we get from the sun. Body tissue is then warmed without raising the air temperature unlike the more traditional sauna. The infrared heat penetrates deep into the body, increasing the core temperature and inducing sweating which releases toxins. As you sweat, your heart pumps faster, increasing the blood flow, reducing blood pressure and improving circulation. The usual temperature range in a room is between 45-60 degrees with relative humidity.

As the infrared heat gently penetrates muscles and tissue directly, it can help to alleviate the pain of arthritis, bad backs and other ailments. It can even help with dermatological problems as it can heal the epidermis layer of your skin.

Some studies suggest there is also the added benefit of slight weight loss as your body works hard to cool itself thus burning up some calories!!

You can easily experience the added health benefits of mood changing colour therapy by installing chromotherapy lighting to your infra cabin (as discussed in our previous blog post ‘Complementary Wellbeing Part 2: Chromotherapy’ published in July 2015). You can also incorporate a music system within the room to fully maximise your wellbeing enjoyment.

Infra cabins come in a variety of sizes

All infrared delivery systems produce EMR (Electromagnetic Radiation) and EF (Electrical Field) to some extent. Because of this, Pure Infra technology was developed to take the worry out of unnecessary exposure. For example, the EF in a Pure Infra cabin is less than you would experience from a computer or mobile phone. Swedish manufacturer Tylö AB incorporate their exclusive Evenheat technology into their Infrared Saunas which spreads the heat evenly throughout the cabin without any ‘cold spots’ or unnecessary exposure to electrical fields.

A major advantage of Pure Infra Cabins is that they are ready to use in a very short space of time and operate efficiently, using up to 20% less energy than other systems. There are many different infrared heating systems but Tylö AB use the CarbonFlex system which has large infra panels, again ensuring an even distribution of heat across the benches walls and floor.

Once your Infrared room has been delivered and assembled, simply plug directly into a normal electrical socket and start enjoying the wellbeing benefits of soothing radiant heat in an aesthetically pleasing, fully glass fronted cabin.

Whatever taste, budget or space restrictions there is an infra cabin for you.

As well as offering bespoke solutions to your wellbeing requirements, Dröm UK can also provide you with a stunning, prefabricated room option. These can still be personalised to your tastes at a fraction of the cost of a full bespoke room.

Encompassing wellbeing into your daily routine is becoming increasingly popular as everyday stress levels rise. Instead of heading to your local gym or spa, why not create a personal spa area in your own home? It is much easier than you think.

One of the main benefits of having your own sauna or steam room, is that you can bathe in a temperature that suits you, not everyone else in your gym or spa! You can personalise the experience even further with the addition of essential oils, choosing whichever matches the level of relaxation or rejuvenation you wish to achieve. Sound systems can be incorporated within the rooms and you can even watch television! Add some chromotherapy lighting to further relax and reinvigorate you.

Another benefit is that it is a perfect way to introduce children to the concept of wellbeing. Children can use the lower benches of saunas where the temperature is lower and the whole family can use the time to relax together. A ‘soft’ sauna, which is a sauna with more moisture in the air, therefore making the heat less intense, is more popular with women and children.

Evolve Sauna Room

As long as there is room for one person to sit down, there are no minimum or maximum space requirements needed to install a sauna or steam room, with some prefabricated saunas as small as 1.3 sq m. Tylö Evolve sauna rooms are delivered in prefabricated modules and are the easiest, quickest way to realise your sauna dream. The benches and backrests are made of Aspen with a choice of Aspen or Spruce wall panelling. The Evolve comes in 17 different sizes and shapes which can be supplemented with glass sections, lighting systems and accessories. Glass fronted variations are also available, again in several different sizes. Choose a combination heater to enjoy a steam sauna experience.

Alternatively choose an Impression sauna room.

Impression sauna room (corner)

This comes complete with two benches at different levels. The lacquered aluminium profiles of the frame simply clip together so no screws are needed for assembly. The sleek lines of the design and the detachable jalousie make this simplicity itself to clean. These sauna rooms can be installed onto an existing hard base/floor.

Another way to experience the benefits of both steam and sauna in your home, is to have a combined unit. The Tylö Impression Twin combines a sauna and steam shower giving you the best of both worlds. This is available in various sizes, the smallest being 1.4 x 1.9m.

Impression Twin Sauna & Steam Room

Tylö also have a range of prefabricated steam rooms supplied in ready to assemble wall and ceiling sections, again available in various sizes, one of the smallest being 1330 x 930 mm. The Elysee and Excellent steam rooms are made from high tech, vacuum formed, special grade white plastic. The more modern Panacea range incorporates chromotherapy lighting and has benches and accessories styled from Corian. All steam rooms are very easy to clean with no grout lines, which helps keep them hygienic.

Elysee and Panacea steam rooms

There are no special water requirements needed for a home spa. Steam rooms just need a basic water supply and drainage. If you are thinking of incorporating an experience shower then the water pressure will need to be appropriate for the fitting. A water supply is not required for saunas.

Installing an Infra Red sauna cabin is even easier as most can just be plugged in to a normal electrical socket. The Tylö range of Infra Cabins start at just 914mm x 914mm.

For more information on any of the above options please contact Dröm UK on 01932 355655 or visit http://www.dromuk.com.

Thermal bathing is becoming more popular than ever. However, with so many different rooms to use, how do you know which ones will offer you the benefits you are looking for?

Follow our series of blogs designed to explain the look, temperature, useage and benefits of each room and discover the range of experiences and rituals available.

Overview:

In general, sauna rooms are traditionally clad in timber with benches, a wood stove or electric heater and stones. They are commonly built using Aspen, Alder, Cedar, Spruce, Ash or Kelo timber, some of which can be heat treated to intensify their colour and aroma. Some rooms have feature walls made from slate or stone and glass can also be used for walls and doors to enhance the feeling of space. Both LED lighting and fibre optics are used for ambience, relaxation and mood enhancement through chromotherapy.

Some rooms have feature walls made from slate or stone and glass can also be used for walls and doors to enhance the feeling of space. Both LED lighting and fibre optics are used for ambience, relaxation and mood enhancement through chromotherapy (please see previous blog post Complementary Wellbeing Part 2 – Chromotherapy for more on the benefits of mood lighting).

Traditional (or Finnish) Sauna:

Temp Range: 80 – 100⁰C

Percentage Humidity: 10-20%

Traditional (or Finnish) Sauna

A traditional sauna is a hot, dry room with wooden benches, typically in two tiers. The lower benches are always cooler than the top benches, often by about 20 degrees. Ensure you find a temperature to bathe in that is comfortable for you. Small amounts of water can be ladled onto the stones to increase the humidity for a short period of time. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the water (if you can – not all commercial spas will allow it), infusing the steam created with your chosen fragrance.

Benefits:

The high temperature in the sauna releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers, sometimes referred to as ‘happy hormones’. Endorphins can ease the pain of arthritis and relieve muscle soreness after intense exercise. Sweating caused by high temperatures opens the skin’s pores and helps reduce levels of toxins and impurities in the body, eliminating waste and reducing the load put on the kidneys. Sauna bathing also lowers blood pressure temporarily and improves circulation as the blood cells dilate, increasing the oxygen levels around the body.

Banya (or Russian Bathing):

Temperature Range: 70-110⁰C

Percentage Humidity: 40-70%

Banya (or Russian Bathing)

A Banya traditionally incorporates a wood burning heater. Water is generously ladled onto hot stones, or even thrown at the walls, to increase the humidity in the room. To protect the head from overheating in the high temperatures, bathers often wear Sauna hats which can first be dipped in water to aid the cooling process. Often a massage is carried out using a fragrant bundle of thin leafy twigs bound together called a Venik, or Vihta. This is said to release toxins through the skin, ease muscle tension and improve blood circulation.

Venik Massage:

Venik bundle

There are several techniques involved in a Venik massage – waggling, compressing, stroking and lashing. It is best to use these techniques one after the other.

Waggle – flutter the Venik just above the body to create an air flow that warms the body up for more intense procedures.

Stroking – gently press the Venik against the body and draw it from head to toe and back again.

Compress – raise the Venik up to the warmer air, shake it to gather the heat, then press firmly against the body for 2-3 seconds

Lashing: Light sliding hits with the Venik.

Alternate the stroking and lashing, then combine compressing and lashing – lash the body two or three times and then press against the body for 2-3 seconds. Generally, this is carried out by an experienced masseuse.

Benefits: The same as for a Traditional Sauna.

Herbal Sauna:

Temperature Range: 50-70⁰C

Percentage Humidity: 25-40%

Herbal Sauna

An herbal sauna is very similar to a traditional sauna, although is often slightly cooler. Fresh or dried herbs of your choice are put into a small amount of water in a bowl or dish suspended over the heater stones. In commercial saunas, a tray of herbs is placed above the heater and water is dripped over the herbs from a tap. As the herbs heat up in the water, their aroma is released gently into the room.

As in the traditional sauna, the lower benches are always cooler than the top benches so bathe where you feel the most comfortable. Ladle water over the stones to increase humidity for short periods.

Sauna Master (or Aufgiesser)

Several spa’s employ a Sauna Master to enhance the bathing experience of their guests. It is impossible to give an exact description of what they do as each Sauna Master will have their own techniques and rituals. However the experience will always involve aromatherapy and heat manipulation.

Generally, the Sauna Master will pour water enriched with essential oils onto the hot stones, creating a burst of scented steam, releasing the health properties of each essence. This makes the air more humid and the heat feels more intense.

They will start waving a towel, using different movements, to agitate the hot air and circulate it around the sauna, intensifying the sensation of heat. Then they fan the bathers by wafting the towel in front of them creating a wave of heat that rushes over their body. The bathers breathe deeply, inhaling the healing vapours of the essences.

The Sauna Master will encourage bathers to leave and cool down before repeating the process several times.

After 18 years of working closely with our Swedish suppliers Tylö, the Directors of Dröm UK have been talking for a while about taking the whole company to visit their offices and showroom in Halmstad, Sweden, which is also where our CEO, Kicki Carlsson, grew up. So while the trip was mainly work related, it also gave the employees a chance to kick back and relax after a really busy few months, socialise with each other out of the office, make new friends and enjoy the delights of this beautiful Swedish town.

So 8.00 a.m. Thursday found us all at Gatwick airport eagerly waiting to board the plane to Copenhagen. From Copenhagen we took the train across the Øresund Bridge, then along the stunning coastline to Halmstad.

After hastily dropping our bags off at the Hotel, we drifted out in various groups to investigate our surroundings. The weather was gorgeous, hot and sunny, and it wasn’t long before we all found deckchairs by the river and sat down to watch some unexpected live music taking place alongside the pop up bars and cafes.

Eventually the more curious amongst us headed over the river into the town itself and found a bustling marketplace and fun fair in the central square! After a bout of shopping (had to be done), we settled in an outside bar and watched an alfresco salsa class taking place nearby!

Dinner that night, with a couple of our Tylö friends, was in a sports themed restaurant, with a bowling alley. So of course, after dinner we all headed over and had a mini competition between two teams. Obviously we let Barry, one of the Dröm co-founders, win overall 🙂

Friday was an early start as we had a full day of product and technical training to fit in. This included information about new products and packages, with most of the saunas, steam rooms and showers available to view in the Tylö showroom. The morning session culminated in a factory tour. Here we learned about, and watched, how heater elements are made, saw where steam generators were put together and tested, watched profiles being cut into the sauna timbers, learnt about the quality control process, and came away with a massive dose of warehouse envy……

After lunch we continued with some more product information then spent some time learning about the latest control panels (concept, programming, design). Then it was time to test the rooms ourselves! It was pure bliss after a hard days training to relax in the various saunas and steam rooms that we had been learning about, cooling off in between with quick dips (and dives) into the inviting plunge pool! Cheeky mojitos were served in ice tumblers, which we then used to rub over our skin in the saunas to help us cool down! Dinner was served in the Tylö restaurant, followed by awards for us all! Good students deserve diplomas 🙂

Then we went into town with Torbjorn and Anki from Tylo to sample the local nightlife! We found a nightclub which had a welcome outside bar space, and also a couple of black jack tables therefore catering for all tastes. As you may have seen in our ‘Happy’ video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj5t5g1Wxus) we have a couple of staff (well, mainly Kevin really) who can really throw some shapes and that night was no exception! So we couldn’t help but take some more videos of his dancing, where he was partnered by Jake …..

On Saturday we moved across to the Tylösand Hotel situated on the coast, which is part owned by Per Gessle, vocalist and guitarist with Swedish rock band Roxette. (http://www.tylosand.se). Tylö have been involved with the spa environment here for many years and it was our opportunity to see and experience it for ourselves. The boys headed straight for the gym while some of us relaxed on the loungers overlooking the sea. We roused ourselves long enough to sample the saunas, steam room, kneipp walk and experience showers before cooling off in the pools.

There was a fantastic foot-golf course close to the hotel, so a group went across to play. Each hole had obstacles to contend with, so it wasn’t as easy as they had first thought. Their accuracy needs some work too ….

The sun wasn’t shining when we first arrived at Tylösand, but it didn’t stop us taking some pictures of the stunning, windswept scenery. Luckily the sun came out again around lunchtime, so we could take some even better pictures – what a contrast!

The remaining group headed out for some lunch in a little restaurant on the dunes which started to fill up rapidly during the time we were there, due to visitors arriving for the ‘After-beach’ party that Tylösand host each year. It started as a concert for those heading back to the hotel after a day at the beach, to prolong the enjoyment of their day, and has developed into a major Summer annual event! So we headed out with a bottle of Prosecco to reserve a spot on the sand dunes and enjoy the music!

We all had a bit of a surprise as we returned to our rooms to change – the car park looked a bit different than it had earlier…….

All too soon it was dinner time on the last evening 😦 And it was very, very, chilly as we took our places at our outdoor table! Once again, the food was absolutely delicious – we couldn’t fault the menus all weekend. Blankets were handed round to protect us from the breeze and maybe we were a bit disappointed that it was so cold as we had been really looking forward to the last outdoor concert of the summer that evening…..

But the moment the music started, the blankets came off (what cold temperatures??!) and the whole restaurant and hotel came to life with dancing, singing and the odd drink here and there! The group – Duo Jag – were brilliant! They sang covers of all types of songs from Eminem to Beyoncé and we quickly learnt the words to ‘The Sun is shining’ – a song none of us had heard before, but now play regularly in the Showroom! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h30CEnMdVH4

It was a very tired, but happy, group that headed homewards the following day! We are still talking about what a great time we had, and laughing at the photos, a week later!

Thank you to Kicki, Barry and Tylö for their generosity and hospitality. When are we doing it again??!